I was working on planting a few cherry trees for a weekend project. This area of my backyard seemed perfect for them. I called 811, and someone came out. There was a marking for a buried high voltage line nearby, but there were no markings in the area I planned to dig. So I got to digging and found 3 cables! I think the flat black one is internet. I fear the thick black cable is another high voltage line. Not sure what the orange one is. I was using a root cutter before I saw them 💀
by peach33man14
6 Comments
Do you have multiple structures on your property, or remote power receptacles? Do they lead to a power pole or transformer pad? These don’t look buried deep enough to be ‘permitted’ line voltage power. But you never know what the previous owners installed.
Orange is most likely coax. I just had cable guy come out and patch new section in because my ditch cut the old one in a few places. Used to be black. Now they use orange. Coax is very low voltage. They get buried shallow and it’s normally a short run to the junction. There’s likely multiple runs because it’s been severed before and never ripped out. Easier to put in a new segment.
If you have cable internet. You’ll know immediately when it’s cut. If you did cut it. Look for a cable junction box and draw a straight line or shortest run to where the coax cable terminates at your building.
Orange should be cable, flat black is internet in my area. The bigger black cables could be old cable wires since they run together. You may be able to find old black cables disconnected on the side of your house at the cable box for confirmation.
The orange is usually an internet/cable line. 811 doesn’t typically mark those. There could be old ones still buried that are no longer being used. If you change companies, the old company doesn’t come out and remove their line.
private lines even 811 doesn’t always know to alert – could be old cable/coax/antenna/etc done sans-permit
Call 811 for an emergency remark. Let them know. They don’t look damaged. I see only power (red) marked the area. How long did you wait form calling 811 and digging? I think it has to be at least 48-72 business hours. If it’s past then you should be in the clear.